Mourinho makes for special case

Old Trafford officials will next summer begin the unenviable task of finding a replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson, if, as his son Darren has suggested, the game's longest-serving manager decides to bring the curtain down on his distinguished career.

They may not have to look that far if Jose Mourinho has his way.

The self-styled 'Special One' has in his own inimitable way put forward his case to fill Ferguson's almighty size 10s and launch the next phase of his successful, and sometimes turbulent, career.

There are arguments for and against and Manchester United players past and present have already waded into the debate.

Rio Ferdinand suggested the Portuguese coach has the "ego and personality" to throw a supporting arm around Old Trafford's superstars, whereas club ambassador Sir Bobby Charlton was less enthused by Mourinho's swagger.

Bryan Robson also suggested seasoned United supporters accustomed to attacking football at breakneck pace may not take to Mourinho's more pragmatic approach to winning games.

Few managers – not even Ferguson - polarize opinion quite like Mourinho. He guided Chelsea to two Premier League titles in a colourful three-year stay at Stamford Bridge before leaving under a cloud after a fall-out with owner Roman Abramovich.

This season he has taken Internazionale to the brink of the Serie A title but has won few new friends in the process. His propensity to hog the spotlight has seen him become embroiled in an unsavoury fall-out with Juventus counterpart Claudio Ranieri, while Ricardo Quaresma, Mancini and Iván Córdoba have all found themselves on the receiving end of Mourinho's razor-like tongue.

An early exit from the Champions League, ironically against United, also led to Mourinho running for cover from Italian journalists.

Mourinho is more than a bag of wind, however, and his track record dictates that he is as much about substance as he is style.

The man with the film star looks may have to wait a little while longer, in any event, for the chance to deliver the perfect script if Ferguson is this season denied his wish to equal Liverpool's record of 18 domestic titles.